I started this plant filter in early January. It's a 30 (?) gal peanut shaped preformed pond that I stocked with Pothos, Arrowhead and Spathiphyllum. It sits right in back of the tank. The Pothos is potted outside of the pond, with the vines hanging into it. The other plants are all bear rooted and in the pond, held up by egg crate. The plant growth has been fantastic! I can no longer see any part of the bottom of the pond. It's wall to wall plant material. The root systems look very good at this point, even the Spathiphyllum. I expected root rot by this time. No so. Some roots have died, but they have been continually replaced with new growth. So, so far so good!